Steve Backley last night insisted winning this month's world championship would be devalued if his great rival Jan Zelezny does not compete.

Zelezny does not plan making a decision about defending the title he won two years ago until after the Zurich Golden League meeting on August 15.

Zelezny, the reigning Olympic champion, has already outlined his major ambition before retiring is to win a fourth successive gold medal in Athens next year.

"I can understand where Jan is coming from," said Commonwealth and European champion Backley, who in the past has spent time at strict training camps with the 37-year-old Czech star.

"Really, if he doesn't compete in Paris, winning there would seem like a hollow victory," said Backley, after an easy win in last night's North Down International Games in Bangor, Northern Ireland.

"I just hope Zelezny will take in part in the world championships," added Backley, runner-up behind his great Eastern European rival in the Sydney Games three years ago.

Backley showed he is well on the way back to top form following illness with victory at Northern Ireland's top meeting of the year.

Returning to Bangor to defend the title he won a year ago, Backley had a winning throw of 81.42 metres - but on a cold night never extended himself. Clearly the stomach upset which kept him out of last weekend's British trials was only a minor problem and another 80m-plus throw will have pleased him, given the difficult weather conditions.

The 34-year-old, after an international throwing career spanning 15 years, is also treating his body with respect.

His victory on a windy and chilly evening ahead of Ainars Kovacs, from Latvia, who threw 76.40m and last weekend's AAA Championships runner-up Michael Allen (74.23m) was only his third competition of the year. Backley said: "I'm only planning to compete in London next week. That's it until the world championships."

Having undergone surgery for a knee operation which delayed his season's start until a victory in Sweden at the beginning of July, Backley revealed there were no ill effects.

"Things are going relatively to plan, even though I did miss Birmingham last weekend," said Backley, twice a world championship silver medallist.

"You know me. If I can get to Paris in one piece then I'll be a dangerous man.

"Touch wood, everything is fine at the moment."

* CHRIS Rawlinson has set his sights on breaking the 11-year-old British 400m hurdles record at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace next week.

Rawlinson, from Rotherham, possesses a career-best time of 48.14 seconds.

He said: "I'm definitely in the shape to break the British record. Everything has moved on for me since Paris and Rome.

"Crystal Palace is the key meeting in my World Championships build-up and I see no reason why the record shouldn't go there."

Rawlinson dismisses suggestions the rest of the world's leading 400m hurdlers are fighting for the silver medal in Paris behind reigning champion Felix Sanchez.

The final round of North of England Track and Field League matches takes place this weekend.